Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

RS968

Incident date

July 2, 2016

Location

الرستن‬, Ar-Rastan, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.93, 36.74 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Heavy and “barbaric” shelling killed six named civilians including two children and injured between 10 and 25 civilians in Ar-Rastan, Homs, according to local media. The majority of the injured were – according to Baladi News and Sna Agency – mostly women and children. Sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Russia or the Syrian regime.

Several sources claimed that two other bodies were so badly burnt they were unidentifiable, including Qasioun News Agency, Sna News Agency and other local sources.

All sources blamed either Russian or Syrian regime warplanes. Shaam Network reported that “The skies of the northern Homs countryside and western Hama countryside were full of planes. Assad and his allies have carried out air raids on liberated points on the civilian houses, which led to the fall of martyrs and wounded a number of civilians.”

Homscommittee reported five children died and blamed the regime. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Yehya Al-Ashtar
Age unknown male killed
Ahlam Bakkor, (wife of yehya Al Ashtar)
Age unknown female killed
Mohammed Bakkor
Age unknown male killed

The victims were named as:

Khaled Mohammed Farzat
47 years old male killed
Youssef Al-Qassem
3 years old male killed
Murad Al-Qasem
4 years old killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ar-Rastan (الرستن‬), for which the generic coordinates are: 34.93, 36.74. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian children treated for wounds following alleged air raids on Ar-Rastan, Homs (Youtube via Qasioun)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An unidentifed body covered in sheets following alleged warplane shelling (Youtube via Alrastm Alrastm)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military

Russia has not reported any strikes between July 1st – 14th 2016.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 9
  • (2–5 children1 woman3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–25
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected belligerents
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (21) [ collapse]